Customer Reviews

Great Voices of Fado 2

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If you love Fado, the traditional singing of Portugal, this is a fascinating album. It combines traditional fadistas like Amalia Rodrigues and Joao Braga with the newer voices like my personal favorite, Cristina Branco. I found another fadista to love--Maria Dilar, so if you are fond of Fado, this is a great CD to sample both the old and the new. (Cristina still is my favorite, even after listening to this excellent set of artists.)

Good way to expose yourself to a variety of Fado artists and their distinct styles

A notorious rule in art seems that the sequel is inferior to the original, be it movies, paintings, and recordings. Not so for this anthology; indeed, it is better than Volume 1 of Great Voices of Fado. But it is hard to state why. Perhaps it is simply the selection of songs but more probable is the different group of artists. (Both albums contain selections by the great old style singers Amália Rodrigues, of course, and Joćo Braga, and also the contemporary singer Bévinda.) The mix of male and female vocalists provide nice balance. The liner notes include biographical sketches of the 13 singers. Anthologies are an excellent way to appreciate the range of fado and discover particular artists. Musically, the pieces are mellow with touches of melancholy and nostalgia, as usual. Cristina Branco's pure soprano rendition of "Saudade" especially tugs at the heart, and the romantic ballad by baritone José Manuel Barreto demonstrates why he became a popular nightclub star. A fine album for dinner and afterwards.